The alert was raised by Dr Foster, an independent organisation which researches health issues, whose research found higher than expected mortality rates. In 2010/2011 Tameside hospital had death rates which were 17 per cent higher than normal.

Dr Foster reveals Tameside's death rates are 17 per cent higher than they should be.

When compared to NHS statistics this equates to 200 ‘excess’ deaths over the 12-month period. Only 3 other trusts in the country received worse results – George Eliot in Warwickshire, Isle of Wight and East and North Herefordshire.

The experts at Dr Foster examined death rates at all hospitals including Tameside – together with deaths occurring within 30 days of discharge – using a system known as the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI). SHMI looks at a range of factors such as national averages and particular patient characteristics in order to give a fairer picture. It forecast that 1,255 people would die at Tameside hospital in the 12 months up to March 2011. The actual figure, however, was 1,463 – 17 per cent higher than predicted.

4th worst death rates in the country

Pearson Hinchliffe Solicitors Medical Negligence Partner noted with concern that Tameside Hospital has the fourth worst death rates in the country. John Pollitt, who heads the specialist team of lawyers in Ashton and Oldham, said:

“There have been longstanding worries about patient care at Tameside and this report again brings into focus the need to improve.

“While the report’s authors do not claim to have identified actual failings in care they do conceded these are ‘warning signs’.”

John Pollitt added:

“In the context of Hospital Trusts being under pressure to make millions in savings this year, budget pressures and bed shortages may put patient safety at risk.”

Poor performance of Manchester hospitals

The Dr Foster study uncovered five other Greater Manchester hospital trusts with higher than expected SHMI – Pennine Acute, Central Manchester, Royal Bolton, Trafford, and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh.

Managers at Tameside Hospital queried how fair the figures were, saying that on the basis of other nationally-recognised mortality studies they were performing within the ‘normal’ range.

Medical director Tariq Mahmood said: “We welcome the Dr Foster report and take its findings very seriously.

“We are still analysing the differences between our Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR), which at 101 is well within the normal range, and the new Summary Hospital-level Mortality Ratio (SHMI).

“Having worked very hard to understand and deliver clear improvements in our HSMR, we will also be working hard to determine the factors responsible for our SHMI and to address these both within the hospital and with our partner organisations.”

“It is important to stress that neither SHMI or HSMR measure avoidable or preventable deaths, they simply record all deaths. With that in mind, it is
worth emphasising that the SHMI should always be considered as part of a range of more detailed indicators.”

“It is also important to stress that Tameside Hospital is well within the normal range for the three out of four mortality indicators – HSMR, deaths in low risk conditions and deaths after surgery – used by Dr Foster.

Contact us

If you have concerns about the quality of health care provided to you or a loved one by a hospital or any other health service provider, contact our friendly medical negligence team on 0161 785 3500 or email John.Pollitt@phsolicitors.co.uk for a free review of your case.